When Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge chose a pretty Rachel Riley dress for Princess Charlotte’s sixth birthday shoot this weekend, she probably didn’t expect it would make her daughter an overnight style icon. But it’s a case of like mother, like daughter—Princess Charlotte has proven to be a trend setter just like Kate. The distinctive dress, which retails at £59, has sold out according to Riley— but it will be back soon.
Riley, who is used to her work being worn by royal children (Prince George is a fan of her corduroy heritage shorts and Peter Pan collared shirts) was thrilled when she discovered that Princess Charlotte was wearing her puff-sleeve button down dress for the birthday photoshoot. “It was such a treat to see Princess Charlotte wearing our button front floral dress to mark her sixth birthday! She looks so happy in the picture,” Riley said. “We look forward to seeing Princess Charlotte’s style develop as she continues to grow and mature and we have no doubt she will become as much of a style icon as her mother is.”
Since joining the royal family ten years ago, the Duchess has become famous the “Kate effect,” with the designer items she wears for public outings flying off the shelves immediately after. Kate, who likes to dress her children in traditional heritage-style clothing, is a big fan of Rachel’s classic designs. Some, like the piped shirt with a Peter Pan collar and blue shorts that Prince George has worn, are almost identical to outfits Prince William wore as a boy.
While Charlotte is often dressed in Spanish designers chosen by the family nanny Maria Borrallo, Kate does have a few favorite shops where she purchases children’s clothing. As well as Trotters on Kensington High Street and Peter Jones in Sloane Square, she is a regular customer at Rachel Riley’s flagship Marylebone store. Charlotte has several Riley dresses, including a similar button-front dress she wore to see the garden designed by her mother at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.
“It’s fun to see that this dress is a style which is as pretty on a four-year-old as it is for a six-year-old,” Riley said. “The dress she wore when she was four featured a delicate, ditsy print in pastel pink, blue and yellow, whereas the style she wore in her most recent picture, she chose a larger print in stronger colors. This print has bigger pink flowers on a navy background, which is in keeping with the choice of older girls who tend to migrate towards bolder fashion choices.”
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